The sterilization of people with a mental handicap: the views of parents.

The issue of sterilization in people with mental handicap has re-emerged in recent years. Historical aspects are briefly reviewed, and attention is drawn to the different context in which this issue has been revived. A postal survey of parental views was undertaken. Fifty-three per cent of the respondents indicated that they had or would consider sterilization for their child with mental handicap, and a large majority of the parents felt that they alone, or in conjunction with a doctor, should be able to consent on behalf of the person with mental handicap. Consideration needs to be given to parental anxieties with regard to sexual and reproductive health issues which are surfacing with the current emphasis on community care and the philosophy of normalization.